Training Device for Golf Swing

ABSTRACT

A golf training device having a proximal stop a distal stop and a free moving weight. When a proper swing is used by the device the weight will remain against the first stop through the majority of the swing&#39;s arch, and not contact the second distal stop until the bottom of the arch, where the club would strike the ball. A golf club having such a training device integral with the club or removably associated with the club.

This application claims priority to, and claims under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e)(1) the benefit of the filing date of, U.S. provisional application Ser. number 63/012,119 filed Apr. 18, 2020, and is a continuation of PCT/US21/27859 filed Apr. 18, 2021, the entire disclosure of each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present inventions relate to training devices for improving golf swings.

Generally, it can be very difficult to develop a proper, correct and good golf swing. It is difficult even with detailed instructions and guidance from a professional for most persons to develop a proper, correct and good golf swing, and further have the ability to have such a swing on a consistent basis.

As used herein, unless specified otherwise, the recitation of ranges of values, a range, from about “x” to about “y”, and similar such terms and quantifications, serve as merely shorthand methods of referring individually to separate values within the range. Thus, they include each item, feature, value, amount or quantity falling within that range. As used herein, unless specified otherwise, each and all individual points within a range are incorporated into this specification, and are a part of this specification, as if they were individually recited herein.

Generally, the term “about” as used herein unless specified otherwise is meant to encompass a variance or range of ±10%, the experimental or instrument error associated with obtaining the stated value, and preferably the larger of these.

This Background of the Invention section is intended to introduce various aspects of the art, which may be associated with embodiments of the present inventions. Thus, the forgoing discussion in this section provides a framework for better understanding the present inventions, and is not to be viewed as an admission of prior art.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, there has been a long-standing and great desire among golfers, both professional and armature, and other persons, to have proper, consistent and good golf swings. The present inventions, among other things, solves these and other long standing needs by providing the devices, methods, and systems taught and disclosed in the specification, drawings and claims.

Thus, there is provided a golf swing training device having: a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, and defining a length between the proximal end and the distal end; a weight; the shaft having a first stop and a second stop, wherein the first stop is located closer to the proximal end and the second stop is located closer to the distal end; the weight slidably engaged with the shaft and movable between the first stop and second stop; the weight, stops and shaft configured whereby during the movement of shaft through a proper golf swing the weight will remain against the first stop through at least 70% of the arch of the swing and strike the second stop at the bottom of the swing in the position corresponding to the position where a head of a golf club would strike a golf ball.

There is provided these methods and devices having one or more of the following features: wherein the shaft is hollow; wherein a handle is attached to the proximal end; wherein the second stop is located at the distal end; wherein the weight is a 7/16 inch diameter ball bearing; wherein the weight is a 7/16 inch diameter stainless steel ball bearing; wherein the first stop is located a distance of 18 └Ω inches from the second stop; wherein the length of the shaft is 40 inches.

There is further provided a golf club having a head, a shaft and a handle, and comprising within the shaft a hollow channel having a ball bearing and a first stop and a second stop as characterized by any of claims 1 to 8.

Yet further there is a provided a training device configured in a manner according to any of these devices that can be attached to a golf club.

Still additionally there is provided the method of practicing a golf swing using any of any one of these devices.

Moreover, there provided the method using any of these devices for practicing, improving, maintaining, and one or more of these, a golf swing.

Moreover, there is provided the method of teaching the technique of how to swing a golf club by providing golf lessons using any of these devices.

Moreover, there is provided the method of teaching the technique of how to swing a golf club by providing instructional videos using any of these devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is schematic cross sectional view of a golf swing training device in accordance with the present inventions.

FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C are partial cross sectional illustrations showing the a club incorporating the swing training device and phases and positions of a good golf swing provided by the club in accordance with the present inventions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In general, the present inventions relate to unique devices to train person to have better golf swings; and to gold clubs incorporating the training device to provide for better golf swings while hitting golf balls.

Generally, embodiments of the present inventions have a shaft that has a proximal and distal end. The proximal end has a handle for grasping attached to the shaft. Preferably, the handle is a golf club handle. The shaft has a length that is from about 60 inches to about 30 inches, although longer and smaller lengths can be used. The shaft has a sliding weight associated with it.

The sliding weight can have a weight of about 3 grams (g) to about 40 g, about 5 g to about 25 g, about 10 g to about 35 g, 60 g and less, 50 g and less, 40 g and less, and larger and smaller weights. The weight should be free sliding, i.e., move with minimal friction. Preferably the weight will move solely by the force of gravity. The weight can be inside or outside of the shaft. The shaft has two stops associated with it. A first stop near the proximal end and a second stop near the distal end. The first stop is located about more about 40% to about 60% of the length of the shaft from the proximal end. The second stop is located about 5% to 20% of the length of the shaft from the distal end. Preferably the second stop is located at the distal end of the shaft.

In use an individual, e.g., a golfer, grasps the handle of the club with both hands, preferably in a proper or acceptable manner for grasping golf clubs. The individual than raises the shaft through a back swing, to a starting position for the swing, as shown in the figure to the right, where the shaft is behind the body and the distal end is above the head. In this position, the starting or back swing position, the weight is held against the first stop (nearer the handle and proximal end) by gravity. As the swing is started, if a proper swing is utilized the weight will remain against the first stop throughout the vast majority of the swing, well beyond the point where the hands are below the belt line of the individual, and preferably until the very end of the swing when the distal end is down near the ground, i.e., in a position where the club head would strike the ball. At that point if the correct swing was used, graving will start the movement of the weight to the distal end, and gravity and the momentum of the swing will cause the weight to strike the second stop. Thus, if a correct swing is performed the weight will not strike the second stop until the point in the swing where the club head would be striking the ball. In this manner the devices permits one to train for a proper swing, and one having increased lag.

Turning to FIG. 1 there is provided a golf training device 100. The device 100 has a shaft 101. The shaft forms a hollow circular channel 102. The shaft has a proximal end 103 and a distal end 104. There is a handle 106 on the shaft. A weight 105 is located inside the channel 102 of the shaft. The weight is preferably a 7/16″ stainless steel ball bearing. A first stop 108 is located inside the channel 102 of shaft 101. A second stop 109 is located inside the channel 102 of shaft 101. The second stop 109 is at the distal end 104 of the shaft 101. The first stop 108, is preferably 18 ½ inches from the second stop 109. The second stop 109 would be the distal stop and the first stop 108 would be the proximal stop. The length of the shaft from proximal 103 to distal end 104 is preferably 40 inches.

In use, is the shaft is swung correctly, i.e., in a correct golf swing, the ball bearing 105 will remain against the first stop 108 through out the entire swing until that point in the swing where the club would strike the ball, at which point the ball would contact the second stop 109, making a noise, to let the individual know that the swing was correct. In this manner swings can be practiced, improved and made consistent.

Turning to FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C, there is shown a actual golf club 201, having a head 202 that is taken through a swing. FIG. 2A the starting position. FIG. 2B the point in the swing where the hands are below the waist. FIG. 2C the point where the club head 202 strikes the golf ball 203. The club shaft has the same configuration and dimensions as the training shaft of FIG. 1. From the figures it is seen that the ball bearing 205 remains against the proximal stop from the starting position, through the mid swing position of FIG. 2C until the end position of FIG. 2C where the head is about to strike the ball.

The various embodiments of devices, articles, components, parts, uses, applications, methods, activities and operations set forth in this specification may be used for various other fields and for various other activities, uses and embodiments. Additionally, these embodiments, for example, may be used with: existing systems, articles, components, operations or activities; may be used with systems, articles, components, operations or activities that may be developed in the future; and with such systems, articles, components, operations or activities that may be modified, in-part, based on the teachings of this specification. Further, the various embodiments and examples set forth in this specification may be used with each other, in whole or in part, and in different and various combinations. Thus, for example, the components of an embodiment having A, A′ and B and the components of an embodiment having A″, C and D can be used with each other in various combination, e.g., A, C, D, and A. A″ C and D, etc., in accordance with the teaching of this Specification. The scope of protection afforded the present inventions should not be limited to a particular embodiment, example, configuration or arrangement that is set forth in a particular embodiment, example, or in an embodiment in a particular Figure.

The invention may be embodied in other forms than those specifically disclosed herein without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. 

What is claimed:
 1. A golf swing training device comprising: a. a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, and defining a length between the proximal end and the distal end; b. a weight; c. the shaft having a first stop and a second stop, wherein the first stop is located closer to the proximal end and the second stop is located closer to the distal end; d. the weight slidably engaged with the shaft and movable between the first stop and second stop; and, e. the weight, stops and shaft configured whereby during the movement of shaft through a proper golf swing the weight will remain against the first stop through at least 70% of the arch of the swing and strike the second stop at the bottom of the swing in the position corresponding to the position where a head of a golf club would strike a golf ball.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the shaft is hollow.
 3. The device of any of the foregoing claims, wherein a handle is attached to the proximal end.
 4. The device of any of the foregoing claims, wherein the second stop is located at the distal end.
 5. The device of any of the foregoing claims, wherein the weight is a 7/16 inch diameter ball bearing.
 6. The device of any of the foregoing claims, wherein the weight is a 7/16 inch diameter stainless steel ball bearing.
 7. The device of any of the foregoing claims, wherein the first stop is located a distance of 18 ½ inches from the second stop.
 8. The device of any of the foregoing claims, wherein the length of the shaft is 40 inches.
 9. A golf club having a head, a shaft and a handle, and comprising within the shaft a hollow channel having a ball bearing and a first stop and a second stop as characterized by any of claims 1 to
 8. 10. A training device having configured in a manner according to any of claims 1 to 8 that can be attached to a gold club.
 11. A method of practicing a golf swing using any of the devices of claims 1 to
 10. 12. A method of swinging any of the devices of claims 1 to 10 for one or more of practicing, improving, and maintaining, a golf swing.
 13. A method Providing golf lessons using any of the devices of claims 1 to
 10. 14. A method of providing instructional videos using any of the devices of claims 1 to
 10. 